The stylist and interior designer shares the tips that work from fashion to decor, in honor of his new product launch with Gilt

"I don't believe anyone obsessed with fashion could not be obsessed with design," says Jeremiah Brent, whose prowess in both worlds has been well-documented during his tenure on The Rachel Zoe Project and a recent home feature in Harper's Bazaar. True to form, his latest project is his first foray into product design centers around "jewelry for your room," a line of candles exclusive to Gilt.com, with an accompanying curated sale to draw even more excitement.

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We spoke to Brent about the candle design ("I spent so much time perfecting the vessel!"), how he and fiance Nate Berkus share decorating responsibilities ("It's the one thing we don't fight about."), and the parallels between fashion and design. Read on for his top tips for excelling at the two.

1. Rely on staples. "The best thing I can tell someone is to invest in staples. Women should have a great power suit, or a trench they'll have for years, or a Chanel jacket that's timeless. That translates to a room. That translates to a fantastic sofa with clean lines. And while we all love the color of the moment, who knows if you'll want that emerald green or black floral sofa six months from now? You can tell from my curated sale that I obviously have a very diverse color palette of black and white. They are fantastic because they're timeless — just look at some of the most beautiful rooms in history!"

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2. Put Personality First. "The really good interior designers are just really good listeners— when we dress a space, it's always based on the person. And the fun part comes from accessorizing. If you do that right, it can be high-impact, low-cost. I like for scent to be the final layer to any space— so you walk into a room and it smells amazing, so you're completely engulfed in the moment."

Brent's candles (available in Fig, Rose, and Fire scents), along with pieces available in his curated sale.

3. Take Risks. "We've been watching design TV for years and it's just one rule after another. In fashion? You're told do everything. You can say 'Screw it! I'm going to do a plaid and a floral and wear a lace glove!' The truth is that aside from fashion, interiors are the only type of art you live your life in. They're an extension of who you are, who you want to be, where you've been. Don't let the fear of following rules stop you from creating a room that reflects that."

4. Slow Down. "The biggest mistake I see people make is rushing! Everyone wants to finish that room and make it look like page 25 of a catalog. But that's when you walk in and you just don't see yourself in your home. Instead, when you're buying something, ask yourself, if you moved across the country, would you pay $1,000 to ship this? You never know where life will take you, so take a minute, be patient, don't just try to fill up a room."

5. Find Your Starting Point. "When I'm designing a room, I design around the moment people are going to live in. When I was doing Rachel Zoe's nursery, I imagined her and her husband hovering around the crib. So I literally put the crib in the middle of the room. When you're looking at a family room, and envisioning all the life happening around the sofa, let that guide you. Don't push it in the corner."